ARLINGTON -- Kumar Rocker was brilliant with six scoreless innings against the Royals on Saturday afternoon and he was even gifted a three-run cushion from his offense, a luxury that Rangers starting pitchers haven’t been afforded often.
Texas’ bullpen gave it all away and more in one inning. The Royals sent all nine to the plate in the top of the seventh, as relievers Tyler Alexander and Jakob Junis gave up four runs on six hits. Then, Chris Martin gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Carter Jensen in the eighth to squander a quality start.
But the Rangers rallied back as Joc Pederson led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a homer and every Texas hitter reached base behind him, setting up Ezequiel Duran for a walk-off RBI single, his first walk-off plate appearance of his career, and a thrilling 7-6 win.
The Rangers’ bullpen, which entered the game with the best ERA (3.11) in the American League, allowed all six runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
But the much-maligned Texas offense found its pulse.